Walther automatic shotgun
History
The shotgun uses designs by Fritz Walther and Georg Walther patented in 1918. Original production was handled by Deutsche Werke in the early 1920s, but was later improved by Walther, with refinements being made to the original design such as the addition of new parts like dust covers and reinforcement ribs. Production is thought to have ended in the 1930s.
Design
The Walther automatic shotgun was a recoil operated, toggle-action design, with the whole rear receiver recoiling back on firing. A toggle joint is seen inside the weapon connected to the bolt. A switch on the left side of the weapon can be toggled to drop the handguard which acts as the magazine tube; the magazine tube holds four shells. A bolt release button can be found on the underside of the receiver just behind the handguard.
Due to poor material quality and design issues, the Walther automatic shotgun suffers from reliability issues and parts breakage.
Operation
Recoil from firing a shell causes the receiver and barrel to move backwards compressing the recoil spring, as the recoil spring pushes forward a flap holds the toggle linkage in place, unlocking the bolt and pulling it backwards, a second spring pushes the bolt back into battery.
